Transforming Haywards Heath

With the ever-increasing demands of the FA ground grading, some great transformations have been happening at Hanbury, home of Southern Combination League Premier Division club Haywards Heath Town.

As part of the club`s five-year plan to progress into the Ryman League, continuous efforts are being made to bring the stadium up to the correct and required standards along with offering a better match day experience for players and spectators.

Externally great efforts have been made, thanks to great investment in money and time from the club and volunteers.

A clubs most important asset is its pitch. Regular maintenance and repair work throughout the whole year (not just season) has seen the pitch go from strength to strength giving the players the best possible surface to play on. Not only does the pitch cope with matches all weekend and midweek it also hosts may county and Mid-Sussex finals.

Brand new turnstiles have now been installed giving correct and proper entry into the ground.

Over the summer, the stand had a complete overhaul and it has now for the first time just had 250 seats fixed in place in the Hanbury Blue with just a few red for officials of both clubs.

A toilet and medical block, soon to be in place, will give the extra facilities required with the medical area also doubling up as extra changing facilities if required.

The 3G training area – open for just over a year now – gives an all-weather training facility for players from under-6 up to the seniors. The area is also hired to local clubs for training.

The bright and airy clubhouse is a shadow of its former self, used by the local community but is also available for hire for parties with the bar also available for adults` parties.

Both dressing rooms have been upgraded to host toilet facilities within them as well as a home dressing room make over.

The club will continue to grow and strive to be the heart of the community.

About Author

Former Swansea City and Kettering Town defender who has been managing the likes of Kettering Town u18s, Rothwell Town, Desborough Town and Wellingborough Town for 33 years as well as being technical director at AFC Rushden & Diamonds.
Began in non-League journalism as editor of Team Talk magazine back in the early 1990s and then as editor of Non-League Daily, joining Pitchero to set up Pitchero Non-League in January 2011. Also works for the National League.